Essay On Bibliotherapy

Educators or medical professionals may often encourage parents to use this approach for their children. Uses of bibliotherapy in different methods like prescriptive bibliotherapy, book on prescription and creative bibliotherapy.

Creative bibliotherapy utilizes imaginative literature novels, short stories, poetry, plays and biographies to improve psychological well-being. Through the incorporation of carefully selected literary works, therapists can often guide people in treatment on a journey of self–discovery. This method is most beneficial when people are able to identify with a character, experience and emotional catharsis as a result of that Identification, and the gain insight onto their own life experiences. (Shechtman 2009).

1.9 Need for the study

The concept of bibliotherapy dates back to 300 BC when ancient civilizations placed inscriptions over library entrances that stated that within the building was healing for the soul. The word ‘bibliotherapy’ originates from the Greek words for book ‘biblion’ and healing ‘therapeia.’ An American minister, Samuel Crothers, combined the Greek words in 1916 to describe bibliotherapy as a ‘process in which specific literature, both fiction and non-fiction, was prescribed as medicine for a variety of ailments.’ In 20th century bibliotherapy had been mainly used with hospitalized adults to support mental health. An important factor in the evolution of bibliotherapy was the deinstitutionalization of mental health care in the 1970s. This saw the use of bibliotherapy begin to move away from the hospital environment and into diverse areas of the community including libraries, general medical practice, psychology, criminal justice, nursing, social work, education and occupational therapy. The one thing they all have in common is the use of literature to help people deal with psychological, emotional and social problems(Mc